What is Engineering Design?
The engineering design is a series of steps that engineers develop to come up with a solution to a problem. Many times the answer involves designing a product (like a machine) that meets certain criteria and/or accomplishes a particular task. This process is different from the Steps of the methodology, which you’ll be more conversant in. If your project involves making observations and doing experiments, you ought to probably follow the methodology. If your project involves designing, building, and testing something, you ought to probably follow the Engineering Design Process. If you continue to aren’t sure which process to follow, you ought to read Comparing the Engineering Design Process and therefore the methodology. This diagram shows the steps of the engineering design process, and therefore the table below describes each step in additional detail:
Steps of the Engineering Design
Engineers don’t always follow the engineering design methods. It is quite common to create something, validate it, find a problem, then return to an earlier step to make a modification or change to your design. This way of working is described as iteration, and the steps of design will likely do the same!
1. Define the Problem
The engineering design steps begin when you examine the following questions about problems that you observe:
- What is the problem or necessary?
- Who has the problem or need?
- Why is it necessary to solve it?
2. Do Background Research
Learn from the experiences and mistakes of others — which will assist you determine existing solutions to related issues, and avoid errors and mistakes that they were made in the past. So, we have to do background research and study in two major areas:
Users or customers
Existing solutions.
3. Specify Requirements
Design requirements state the important features that your solution must meet to succeed. One of the easiest methods to recognize the planning requirements for your solution is to examine the concrete example of an identical, existing product, noting each of its key characteristics. Its also known as Process Design
4. Brainstorm Solutions
There are always numerous good chances for solving design queries. If you concentrate on just one before studying the options, it is almost certain that you are neglecting a better solution. Skilled designers try to create various possible solutions as they can.
5. Choose the Best Solution
Look at whether any feasible solution satisfies your design requirements. Some solutions might meet more requirements than others. Discard solutions that do not match the requirements.
6. Develop the Solution
The development includes the learning and improvement of a solution, and it continues during the design process, usually even after a product ship to clients. This process is mainly done in CAD.
7. Build a Prototype
The design process includes many iterations and redesigns of your final solution. You will likely examine your solutions, discover new problems, make changes, and test new solutions before concluding on a final design.
8. Test and Redesign
A prototype is a working version of a solution. Normally, it’s made with various materials than the final version, and usually, it is not as polished. Prototypes are a key action in the advancement of a final solution, enabling the designer to examine how the solution will operate.
9. Communicate Results
To build your project, communicate your results to others in a concluding report and/or a presentation board. Expert engineers regularly do the same, thoroughly documenting their solutions so that others can be manufactured and approved.